ABINGTON — When you walk into Bud’s Goods & Provisions, the modern Americana feel is everywhere, from the movie box office theme check-in to the sports memorabilia and movie posters.
Inside the store, as you wait in line, a marijuana timeline wraps around the front starting from 1794 when George Washington encouraged “the farming of this incredible plant,” the wall art said, referring to growing hemp.
The art continues through the store inside glass display cases. Each of the THC products has an intricate theme to advertise the merchandise better.
The marijuana dispensary was founded by Alex Mazin, 33, in 2020. Mazin currently operates two dispensaries, including the one at 1540 Bedford St. Abington.
The second location is in Worcester, while a new location in Watertown is next on the agenda.
One of the top priorities of the dispensary is introducing top-quality flower for an affordable price, he said. The dispensary offers a special treat of 3.5 grams of flower for $30.
Bud’s has a large selection of marijuana products from 35 to 40 different flower strains and an assortment of pre-rolls, edibles, seltzers, topicals, vaporizers, accessories, concentrates and infused ice cream.
“While the argument is that dispensaries don’t make money on a $30 eighth, Bud’s Goods thinks otherwise,” said Tess Woods, a public relations specialist.
Mazin is a firm believer in the marijuana business and isn’t in it for the money, he said.
“It’s very much a personal thing,” Mazin said.
“I want people to be proud of what we have built and to call it their own. At the end of the day, it is just weed, and there is no reason why my neighbor shouldn’t be able to come to the store and afford to buy it.”
Mazin’s primary mission is to normalize cannabis and build the first recognizable East Coast marijuana brand across the United States, Woods said.
“Potent yet legal cannabis should be affordable for all walks of life 21 plus,” Mazin said. “Yet within the Massachusetts cannabis market, an eighth, equivalent to 3.5 grams of cannabis, will usually cost consumers between 50 to $55.”
The young entrepreneur was raised in Worchester and earned a bachelor of science in strategic management and entrepreneurship from Babson College.
Before working in the marijuana industry, Mazin worked as a strategic management consultant for a Fortune 100 company, he said.
With this experience, Mazin was able to bring a fresh new concept to the marijuana industry. In addition, he relaxed the process by incorporating a movie box office-style check-in.
“When you come in, you get your ticket check, so to speak. We don’t check IDs at the door. We don’t lock the front door because we don’t do any of those things in a normal retail environment. So hopefully, in a few years, dispensaries will be a part of a normal society,” Mazin said.
The check-in may seem stress-free without the security guard, but an ID showing buyers are at least 21 years old is required to enter.
Once inside, eye-pleasing displays pop out with their artistic expression. An excellent example of that would be the THC-infused seltzer drinks floating in a plastic flotation device off to sea on display.
Mazin’s vision is for adults to feel like they’re in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory once they see the artistic visuals. The purpose behind the extravagant visuals is to keep the customers entertained as they wait in line.
“Every inch of this place is filled with passion, love, and creativity. So creating something fun for people is important.” Mazin said.
